Rain Rabbit,
The seeds have to be in the dark, just cover the seed tray with a sheet of cardboard, it is only the seeds that need to be in the dark, not the gardener.
Also really watch the slugs when you put them out, try crushing garlic into a sprayer with warm water and spray the plants at the bottom. After they have grown a foot they are safe. By the way stake them up for about two feet from behind the plant when you put them out and each flower stalk if you are serious about big blooms that the wind won't blow over. The leaf body will cover off most of the stake. I usually plant the year two into raised beds or 3, 6, then 12 inch pots. Easier to drop the plant from a pot into its final planting space.
Cut back to the ground after flowering, fertilize and get a second set of blooms. If you want you can just let the leaves grow and feed the plant without blooms, it will set the plant up for a big show the following year.
